My Bags are Packed

The day has finally come. Departure Day. I fly out at 12:30pm and will be flying through Houston to Amsterdam. Amsterdam to Johannesburg, South Africa. I will spend the night in Johannesburg with a friend and then fly to Nelspruit, South Africa, where I will spend the day and night with another friend. On Wednesday morning Pieter will be out to pick us up and take us into Mozambique.

This morning, I woke up feeling somewhat overwhelmed. This is a new feeling for me when leaving for Mozambique. In the past, I usually am filled with excitement, and wonder of what adventure I am going to find. But right now, with the circumstance and what has happened in the last few weeks with my MOZ family, I just don't know what is really going to be required of me.

Please pray that I will be able to support my friend's spiritual, emotional, and physical needs well. Also that I would be a good listener. That I would offer extreme flexibility, understanding, and have no expectations of what is supposed to happen. Pray that I would have patience with those around me. That I would find a new capacity to serve others and love them well.

Thank you for reading and following along with the adventure. It is going to be a busy summer, with lots going on. I wish that I had more insight into all that is going to be taking place, but I will have to leave you in suspense. Please check back often, and make sure to leave a comment, so that I know people are following along with the adventure.

Quick Update/Prayer Request

As you already know we had one of our babies passed away in his sleep early last week. It happened while Pieter and Rika were in South Africa getting supplies for the house. On their way back across the border into Mozambique, they had the keys to their vehicle stolen. All of their possessions were locked in the car, which included their cell phones, and the car's alarm was also armed. They had no where to go, and no other option than to have the car towed all the way back to Nelspruit (about 1.5 hours back into South Africa), where there is a toyota dealer that would be able to help them with the keys and ignition so they could be back on their way. By the time they got back to Nelspruit it was dark, and they dealership was already closed. Pieter, Rika, and the kids had to spend the night in Nelspruit and wait to get help the next morning.

When Pieter arrived at the dealership and they opened the car he saw that his phone had many missed calls. The voicemail shared that they need to get home immediately because one of the children at the second house had passed away. The car was still not ready to be taken for the drive back to Mozambique.

While stuck in Nelspruit waiting on the car to be fixed, Pieter received another phone call from his sister. The phone call was to inform him that his mother had died of a sudden heart attack. After much deliberation and feeling helpless not knowing what to do, the family decided to head to Capetown to be with their family and help with preparation with Pieter's mother's funeral. They are currently in Capetown, his mother's funeral was on Monday (5.25.09).

It has been a hard week for us all involved, but especially hard for Pieter, Rika, and their family. I'm sure they would appreciate all of your prayers and support throughout this hard time.

I leave in just a few days(4) to be with them. Life is somewhat hectic, as I finish up work with 3 more days of teaching my wonderful 5th graders, and attempt to pack my classroom for a major move to another building for the next school year. I am also working on packing my bags for the 2+ month stay, trying to fit in a royals' game with my dad on his visit to see my brother and I, and really want to make some time for some time with friends within my awesome community here in Kansas City. Busy, but very good.

Did you know that hippos hibernate?

So here is a little known fact... This blog is about to come out of it's dormant/hibernated-state and you will see new writing very shortly.

My tickets are bought (bags not yet packed), but I am leaving on a jet-plane very soon. I plan to fly out of Kansas City on the 31st of May to my second home in Mozambique. I can't wait to be back with my friends there, serving alongside them as they rescue children. I love that I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of this amazing ministry that takes responsibility for the homeless, abandoned, orphaned children in the community.

Over the last 4+ years I have grown to see everyone there like family, and can't wait to return to live, and do life with them for the summer. I will be in Mozambique for June, July, and the first part of August, so make sure to check back frequently for updates, stories, pictures, and hopefully lots and lots of adventure.

Tell your friends, family, and anyone else that might be interested in following, as this hippo website comes out of hibernation.